According to the founders of the Dry January movement, the charity Alcohol Change UK, nine million people took part in the initiative this year - up from eight million in 2022. With more and more people opting out of drinking, we're seeing a proliferation of low and no-alcohol beverages in the market today. So take a seat, crack open a cold one, and get some insight into what’s happing in the world of booze-free booze.

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future reality - it's here, and it's already changing the digital landscape for businesses and consumers. Learn more about the AI opportunity and how it can support your business and shopping experience...

Health is getting a full tech glow-up and at True we're keenly watching this consumer Health Tech transformation. Take a look at the six trends we're seeing in this space...

There are 37 large-scale designer outlets in the UK, which saw an estimated 111 million visitors in 2021. Outlets are growing at ten times the rate of traditional high street retail, so could this be the solution to our overstock problems?

As sustainability moves further up the agenda, more and more consumers are growing tired of carrying the burden of responsibility when it comes to ‘doing the right thing’ and are increasingly pushing back on brands to demand they take sustainability further. Given 88% of consumers across the US and UK want brands to help them be more eco-friendly in their everyday lives, legacy ‘essentials’ categories such as personal care and cleaning are also beginning to experience and drive disruption.

One of the most challenging times to raise funding is in the beginning, but luckily, there are many funding options available to early-stage startups. The current economic climate has intensified difficulties, and this is set to continue. But, raising from a VC isn't the only option, so we've laid out some other routes to consider.

As part of our Future of Health and Wellbeing pillar at True, we have been keeping a close eye on all things sleep. It’s time to wake up to sleep tech - read more on what we've dreamed up based on the latest products and services developed to help us fall asleep, stay asleep, or improve the quality of our sleep.

Fast fashion retailer Shein is beset by greenwashing claims and accusations of poor labour practices, but it's also valued at $100 billion and ships to 220 countries worldwide. So what does this say about the future of sustainable fashion, and how has Shein managed to outshine the naysayers?

What happens when 4,600 start-up founders and 2,600 investors, representing $1 trillion in assets under management, spend two days in Helsinki? We went to Slush 2022 to find out – read on to learn the top trends in tech and our key takeaways on the state of venture funding.

With the FIFA World Cup coinciding with the busiest shopping period of the year, as well as a challenging economic forecast, this is unchartered territory. But there are opportunities for all retailers to get involved in the hype, community and revenue that sporting events bring.  

Entrepreneurship has never been easy, and with the backdrop of a tough economic landscape plus a year on year slowdown of venture funding, the challenges for entrepreneurs can mount up. So, what's the best way to think about runway and funding when the venture capital markets are tough? Read on to find out.

Once a futuristic, digital space just written about in sci-fi books, the metaverse is really here, with nearly $2 billion spent on virtual land in the last 12 months. But how should brands be thinking about the opportunity the metaverse presents?

In this True Story, we're tucking into the ever-evolving food landscape. As the cost of food rises, we’re seeing new trends appear on supermarket shelves and on our screens, with the emergence of platforms helping shoppers navigate the cost-of-living crisis.

As the world becomes more aware of its collective responsibilities, focus on the environmental, social and governance (ESG) credentials of an organisation has now become an essential puzzle piece in the corporate agenda. In our latest True Story, we cover the three primary factors driving this reprioritisation.

When done well, D2C and e-commerce are a cost-efficient way to start and grow a retail business or brand. But as inflation bites and consumer confidence takes a tumble, retailers and brands are rightly concerned about the months ahead, and what the future strategy should be and whether omnichannel strategies that include stores should play a role. We summarise some key takeaways we’ve learnt from brands in our portfolio with a strong omnichannel mix.

The European heatwave is a yet another stark reminder of the ways in which the world can change quickly and with an immense knock-on effect.

Following two years of unprecedented consumer behaviour change, brands are now facing the consequences of rising inflation – at a level not seen in a generation – and the reaction of consumers facing the uncertainty of a recession. Looking at the way that this is going to impact different consumers and categories is sitting high on our agenda.

Every year we host an Innovation Showcase. It gives us the chance to show the breadth and scale of opportunities available to our portfolio brands and leading global partners. We’re seeing rapid growth in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) space and we have plenty of scaleups in our network to shout about, so we themed this year’s Showcase accordingly.

As the price of materials, energy and products soar, it's tempting for retailers and brands to discount to keep their customers, whose disposable income continues to shrink. For many brands the urge to discount, if not well thought through, can be damaging to your brand and easily spiral in a race to the bottom. In this piece we take a look at how businesses can lean into strategic partnerships, innovative tech platforms and other ways to creatively keep your customers.

Overall, there has been a significant and sustained increase in awareness of the ESG (Environmental Social and Governance) agenda from corporates and consumers alike over the last 12-24 months, and it’s a theme that’s as topical today as it ever has been. It’s at the forefront of our minds both from an investment and innovation perspective, and is one of the hottest technology investment themes for 2022